What grease on carbon dropout

ayjaycee

First silly question of the day here!

I just wanted your views on what, if any, grease I should use for the dropouts on my 2016 model Cannondale Synapse Carbon Ultegra with Ultegra 6800 skewers. In all my years of cycling, I have never lubed dropouts and never had any issues but I took the wheels off yesterday to clean the rims and brake pads and noticed a minor but annoying creak when out later in the day which I identified as coming from the front dropouts. I stopped, tightened the skewer by about an eighth of a turn set off again and the noise had gone. It did however get me thinking that a bit of lube would probably make sure that I didn’t come back but also got me wondering about what (if any) grease to use. Looking at the bike, I’m pretty sure that the dropouts are all carbon fibre whereas my other road bikes with carbon forks have had metal dropouts bonded to them. Instinct tells me to stay away from anything petroleum base and I’m not sure that Lithium or carbon assembly paste would be a good idea either (but I don’t know why!). That leaves silicone grease which, I think, is more or less inert and shouldn't damage the carbon (or wash out so easily). As you might gather from this, I’m no engineer and so would appreciate the views of those more knowledgeable.

Cheers in advance.

imposter2.0

ayjaycee wrote:

I stopped, tightened the skewer by about an eighth of a turn set off again and the noise had gone.

There's your answer, I think. You don't need grease - you just need to tighten your skewers sufficiently. Lubing the dropouts is the answer to a problem that doesn't exist - the contact surfaces involved are intended to bind, not move against each other.

ayjaycee

Imposter. Thanks - I kind of thought that about 1 millisecond after pressing the submit button. Anyone else with a view?

fenix

30+years. Never greased dropouts. No squeaks.

meanredspider

No - don't grease the drop-outs - you'll just create a nice grinding paste - it might no longer squeak but it will gradually grind away.

mugensi

I have never greased the drop-outs on my bikes and never had a problem, like said above, you want the QR to grip into the drop out to hold the wheel tight, adding grease could technically create slippage between the two surfaces.

Matthewfalle

No grease needed and no need to worry about what kind of grease to use on carbon. Normal moly for things that move, copperslip for things that don't move. Carbon paste for clamping.

Just make sure you dry the bugger properly if it gets wet.

thegreatdivide

I use Finishing Line Teflon Grease. I think the white stuff works better. There is absolutely NO issue with putting a dab on carbon drop outs and yes it will help git rid an annoying creak generated from that area because regardless of how tight it’s camped down – and you can clamp a carbon drop out much tighter than an alu one – on some bikes it needs that little bit extra TLC to fix the creak.

First.Aspect

Isn't putting lube on drop outs in the same category of stupid as putting oil on your squeaking brakes?

imposter2.0

thegreatdivide wrote:

I use Finishing Line Teflon Grease. I think the white stuff works better. There is absolutely NO issue with putting a dab on carbon drop outs and yes it will help git rid an annoying creak generated from that area because regardless of how tight it’s camped down – and you can clamp a carbon drop out much tighter than an alu one – on some bikes it needs that little bit extra TLC to fix the creak.

Ask yourself 'what' is creaking and 'why' - and then re-think your approach to this. Here's a clue - 'creaking' implies movement.

thegreatdivide

Imposter wrote:

thegreatdivide wrote:

I use Finishing Line Teflon Grease. I think the white stuff works better. There is absolutely NO issue with putting a dab on carbon drop outs and yes it will help git rid an annoying creak generated from that area because regardless of how tight it’s camped down – and you can clamp a carbon drop out much tighter than an alu one – on some bikes it needs that little bit extra TLC to fix the creak.

Ask yourself 'what' is creaking and 'why' - and then re-think your approach to this.

Cheers pal. Will do.

imposter2.0

You're welcome. Hopefully it'll stop you wasting grease as well.

ayjaycee

First Aspect wrote:

Isn't putting lube on drop outs in the same category of stupid as putting oil on your squeaking brakes?

If by 'brakes', you mean 'brake pads', no, nothing like it.

First.Aspect

ayjaycee wrote:

First Aspect wrote:

Isn't putting lube on drop outs in the same category of stupid as putting oil on your squeaking brakes?

If by 'brakes', you mean 'brake pads', no, nothing like it.

Your wheels are retained in place by friction. Explain the difference to me.

pippi_langsamer-2

Grease on dropouts? That's bonkers....

DeVlaeminck

I'd err on the side of no grease but if someone finds it cures a creak then I can't see a problem trying it. Yes creaking implies movement but not all movement leads to creaking so it's possible a dab of grease could damp sound.

imposter2.0

DeVlaeminck wrote:

I'd err on the side of no grease but if someone finds it cures a creak then I can't see a problem trying it. Yes creaking implies movement but not all movement leads to creaking so it's possible a dab of grease could damp sound.

So masking the symptoms makes more sense than finding the cause? Greasing a surface which relies on friction for a secure attachment is insanity.

Matthewfalle

Imposter wrote:

DeVlaeminck wrote:

I'd err on the side of no grease but if someone finds it cures a creak then I can't see a problem trying it. Yes creaking implies movement but not all movement leads to creaking so it's possible a dab of grease could damp sound.

So masking the symptoms makes more sense than finding the cause? Greasing a surface which relies on friction for a secure attachment is insanity.

Madness.

pippi_langsamer-2

Interesting (maybe), anecdote. My second bike developed an annoying as hell creak last cpl of rides. Sounded like bb (30), so stripped and re-torqued etc and still same creak. Tried chainring bolts...and the quick releases. Figured out it only creaked when I was putting down power in the saddle. Turns out the saddle clamp was the source of the creaking :roll: